NOBEL PEACE PRIZE UPDATE: US Steps up Role in Mali as French Advance: “The Pentagon announced yesterday that it will, in fact, begin aiding French forces in Mali by providing US air tankers to refuel French aircraft. This announcement comes after weeks of behind-the-scenes tension between the two countries, during which Paris has criticized the US has been dragging its feet on military aid, while Washington has been reluctant to jump into a conflict in which it may be expected to foot much of the bill. Although it still isn’t clear exactly how much aid America is willing to provide, it does at least appear that the US is inching closer to a more active role in the Mali conflict.”